The Labor enquirer., 1887-03-12
Something Of Interest for the
Titans of the Fur
mace.
Facts Concerning the Great Eng
lish Trade Union, the
Society Of holders.
An Article That Union Hen Should
Call Carefully to the Attsn-
tion OF Non -Unisnists.
Arranged for the Enquirer.

rns capacity i0r ,pr0ducfton l
greatly changed by the conditi IN il
which he is surrounded. Mechanics II
Europe have clung to methods and Gus
toms handed down to them by thei
fathers. and are extremely careful tina
labor does not destroy their muscula
systems.
They believe in giving an honest day,
work for fair days wage. and no more
Ina word. the European workman is g
mechanic still. whilst the American
workman has ceased to be mechanic
and has become machine.
1t is an unusual sight to see mech
anic in Ohio working in the sandhea a.
after he reaches so wears, and the per.
centage of such is small. They are rot
as a rule, considered desirable hands
and are forced to give way to the young ger
and stronger. Quantity. not Quality, is
what is dem Hnded by the American en-
ployer. \ 4
Mans capacity for earning cannot be
determined by one weeks wages 1t can
only be determined BY the result Of a
year. To attempt it otherwise. is sto D.
ping at the threshold of the investiga "a.
tion, as study Of the two tables men
toned here shows.
A record Of 1451 molders In Ohio.
shows their average earnings to be
$497 81 for the year. In ten mon this of
the year 1885. twentv-one of them died,
an average death rate per 1000 of 14.33 {;
average age at death, nearly 40 wears.
This does not appear, at a glance, to be
an unusual death rate, but taken into
reconsideration with the fact that the
death rate for all ages in the city of,Cin.
cinnati for the same ten months was but
l5S. it becomes somewhat alarming.
The average working hours for each was
sixty per week. or 1920 per year.
A record Of 12.4lS molders in England
Ireland and Wales. shows their average
earnings to be $4l!55 for the year. and
40 deaths. Theirtaeeraea age at death
was SO years and II months; and a
death rate Of twelve in 1000. The aver
age hours worked, fifty four per week
or 2,SOS per year. /"f,
An analysis Of these two tables sup
plies food for thoughtful reflection.
The Ohio molder earns $50 more than
the British lnolder, and has worked 3l2
hours or 35 days longer to do it.
The American molder dies before he
reaches the age Of 40, while his British
prototype lives to be so years and II
months. Persons beginn working at
molding in America at 16 years, and in
Great Britain at about the same age.
If this ratio holds good, the American
molder has twenty-four years to work
before death is sure to come, while the
British molder has thirty-fve. But
suppos ng the years allotted to each was
twenty-four, and the chances for con-
tinuance of life depended upon physical
conditions, aud all other things being
equal, whose chances of life would be
best? The British molder would have
worked in that time 81 1892 hours, whilst
the American molder would have
worked 74,SSO hours, or two years and
eight months more than his competitor
in the race for life.
Again, supposing their earning capac'
ity would hold good for the time each
lives, who would be. the greatest Garner
the rate being the same as this year
The American would, in the twenty.
four years Of his life. earn S1 ,942 64 in
the thirty. Ave years of his life, the Brit
ish molder would earn $l4,613, 25, OF
$269O6l more than his American com
petitor.
In seeking solution for the cause o.
disparity in the lives of molders in Grea'
Britain and Ohio. T. have In ter
viewed men who we're conversant with
the methods Of working in the foupdries
Of both countries. and the sentiment
was universal, that close competition or
the part Of American manufacturers wal
the prime cause, and unless the goot
sense of the thoughtful employer
should soon put check on the unnatu
raj competition. that has ruled sin Ice th,
depression in business began, no hor
for a better condition of muscular labo
could be expected.
I. Speaking to superint ,ndent Of q ma
chine shcp and foundry, on the subject
= = he said: Competition was the ca use;
and gaveItwo instances where contract
for several hundred tons Of casting wer
contracted for. at prices that barely GOV
: cred The cost of iron and the very low
est rate Of wages, and on being aske
how it was possible to do work at tn
d prices named. said, by having tn
IS work made by the piece. at such price
q that molder would be obliged to d
two days work for one dav's wsges B."
A foreman in foundry in lar % a.
< ricultursl establishment in neishbo
10 ing city. talking on this subject. say
lis Il have seen the davis work in this sht
n nearly double in five years. The rap
stri des made III the Perfection Of labo